Music sheet turner



June 28, 1949. c. GAMES 2,474,522

MUSIC SHEET TURNER Filed Aug. 26, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

SHAKE/1X [NEE A T'T'URN C. GAINES MUSIC SHEET TURNER June 28, 1949.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1946 mm mm INVENTOR. CHARLES GA INES Z AT'T'DR Y Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MUSIC SHEET TURNER Charles Gaines, Vallejo, Calif.

Application August 26, 1946, Serial No. 693,023

This invention relates to an improved music sheet turner and has particular reference to an especially constructed device to be used by musicians when playing in orchestras and the like for holding music composition sheets and which is provided with means, whereby the player can turn the sheet while playing without the necessity of using his hands, thus leaving his hands completely free to play the musical instrument at all times.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described which will turn a sheet of music through the medium of a foot pedal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide means for removably and adjustably attaching the device to a conventional music stand, whereby the device can be easily removed and is readily adjustable to different heights.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an especially constructed frame for holding the music sheets and a clock spring for turning the same.

A still further object of the present invention is the provision of a resilient bumper for cushioning any and all noise produced by turning the sheets.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character described that is durable, simple in construction, economical to manufacture, efficient in operation and highly serviceable in use.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, wherein for the purpose of illustration like numerals designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device shown in its normal position on a conventional music stand,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, except showing the device in the act of turning a sheet of music.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the music sheet holding means and the mechanism for turning the same,

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the device,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, looking at Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrow 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings and to the various parts thereof, the numeral 8 designates a conventional music stand, as a whole, the numeral 9 the holder and the numeral Ill a standard tripod for supporting the same. The improved device includes an auxiliary holder for retaining the music sheets and comprises a back or base member H for holding the cover portion of the music and a frame or leaf designated as a whole by the numeral l2 for retaining the center sheet. Practically all musical compositions consist of a cover portion and a center sheet.

The composition is written on the inside of the cover designated in Fig. 2 by the numerals l3 and I4 and on both sides of the center sheet designated by the numerals l 5 and I6. The said frame 12 is made of any suitable material such as plastic or metal, the present illustration showing a wire frame, the numeral 11 designating a substantial wire bent into a rectangular form and the numeral I8 a pair of thin cross wires that are preferably spot welded thereto. It is very important that the said frame l2 be sufficiently transparent for permitting the music to be read through the leaf. A plurality of suitable clips l9 and '25 shown to advantage in Figs. 3 and 5 are welded to the frame I 2 or otherwise substantially fixed thereto for holding the music sheet thereon. It will be noted that the outer clips I!) have slots H! extending longitudinally with respect to the back II and the central clips have slots 20 extending at right angles to the outer clips. One of the said central clips is preferably adjustable as indicated at 2| for accommodating different widths of sheets. The back I l is provided with a pair of clips 22, which clips are hingedly secured to the outer end portions of the back as shown at 23 in Fig. 3, for holding the cover portion of the music thereon. The cover portion of the music is retained onto the back II by the clips 22 and the center sheet is retained onto the frame l2 by the clips l9 and 20.

An elongated metal strap 24 is transversely positioned across the central portion of the back II and is fixed thereto by suitable screws or rivets 24 as shown to advantage in Figs. 3 and 5. The said strap 24 extends beyond one edge of the back I l and the outer extremities thereof are bent at right angles to the back as indicated at 25 and 26 forming two oppositely opposed overhanging lips as shown in Fig. 5. A pair of hinge plates 21 and 28 are welded to the frame l2 and are hingedly secured to the said ends 25 and 26 by suitable pins 29 and 30. An angular member 3| is fixed to the outer extremity of the strap 24 and extends over the plate 28 and in parallelism therewith. A threaded nut 32 rigidly Secures the pin 30 to the said angular member 3|.

The preferred means provided for turning the frame I2, whereby the sheet thereon is inverted,

consists of a suitable clock spring 33 the inner end of which is fixed to the pin 30, the outer end extending against the rod 34 of the frame, as shown to advantage in Figs. 3 and 4, whereby a resilient tension is applied against the frame in direction of the arrows A for turning the same. A hook 35 is hingedly secured to the back II as at 36 and a curved spring 31 hingedly secured to the said back ll as at 38 resiliently holds the said hook against the .pin 39 and in whichlJOsition the said hook overlaps the lower end portion of the frame 12 retaining the said frame against the back as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. The said pin 39 can be bent over to form -a guide for the said hook 35 if desired. The saidhook is controlled by a foot pedal mechanism illustrated to advantage in Figs. "1-an-dY-2. -Thesa=id mechanism includes a foot pedal 46 haying an elongated round rod Al extending therefrom, which rod is bent, forming a crank as at 42 and is pivotally connected to a tubular member 43 as at M. A secondary tube 45,-;having a smaller diameter than the tube '43 is telescopically mounted therein and the outer extremity of the said secondary tube 45 is fixed to1a flexible music stand. As the music stand is adjustable to different heights it is obvious'that the mechanism connecting the foot pedal to the hook 3,5 for controllin the turning of the music sheet is adjustable accordingly.

From the foregoing description .taken in con-- junction with the accompanying drawing it will readily be seen that "the hook shaped "lever 3.5 and mechanism associated "therewith provides ,a suitable means for looking the frame J2 and releasing the same and that the clock spring "33 is positive in its action. The-footpedaldfl permits the musician to turn the sheet of music by simply pressing the pedal with the foot, whereby the hands are completely free at all times to play the musical instrument and "the possibility of-getting out of time with'the'music due to the necessity of turning the sheet of music ,size, material and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: A device of the character described for supporting .and turning a musical composition embodying a folded sheet and a center sheet, said -.dev-ice including in its construction a music stand,

a back positioned at the upper portion thereof for retaining the folded sheet of music, a frame hinged to the said back at the central portion thereof for retainingthe center sheet of music,

a clock spring secured to the said back and positioned above the same, said clock spring being capable of engaging the frame for turning the frame from one lateral side to the opposite lateral side of the back, a resiliently held hook shaped lever hingedly secured to the said back at the lower portion thereof for normally retaining the said frame on one lateral side of the said back, a foot pedal pivotally secured to the .music stand, a crank arm leading from the foot pedal, a tubular member pivotally connected to "the said crank arm and extending upwardly therefrom, a second tubular member telescopical- "1y positioned in the first mentioned tubular mem- 'ber,,means adjustably securing the said tubular =members together, and flexible means connecting the second mentioned tubular member to the said hook shaped lever, whereby the operating of the said lever for releasing and turning the frame is facilitated.

CHARLES GAINES.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS .Number Name Date 848,897 Golden Apr. 2, 1907 1,185,683 Kopp et al June .6, 1916 1,139,065 Ensign Dec. 10, 1929 2,423,034 Lisenbee June 24, 1947 

